TigerJ

If Buffalo were to fill a roster spot, it doesn't have to be an edge rusher. And I'm pretty sure Beane also knows Trent Murphy is under con tract.

He's got a couple of vacant roster spots. Is there a veteran free agent really worth bringing on board at this point, or does he look for somebody else to fill a spot? Is there anything out there at this point that isn't garbage?

I guess the question is: at 137 years old, does he represent an increase in production sufficient to give up a roster spot that would otherwise be given to a young, developing TE with upside? I'm skeptical.

Knox is said to be a real gym rat/workout freak. Maybe Rolle can give him some tips on how to be as efficient as possible.

Not that McCoy isn't good, but Buffalo did just draft a guy to play the same position, a guy that experts believe could be one of the most disruptive 3 tech DTs in the league. Buffalo doesn't need to do anything today or tomorrow. If they sign Ziggy Ansah in a couple weeks, I would explore trading Shaq Lawson for 2020 draft picks.

Nick O'Leary - 4.93 Tommy Sweeney - 4.83 Neither is a blazer, but Sweeney is enough faster to make a difference. Weight is very similar - pretty average for a TE. Sweeney has an inch on O'Leary in height. The biggest difference in measurables between the two is probably arm length. Sweeney has decent arm length at a little under 33 inches. O'Leary's arms are a full 3 inches shorter

So, he shouldn't borrow a philosophical position on how to run a team from the most successful college coach of all time?

I'm counting on improved run blocking as well. Much of Shady's problem last season was the presence of too many defensive players in the backfield before Shady even had a chance to look for a hole.

Sweeney reminds a little of Nick O'Leary. O'Leary couldn't run very fast and didn't have great form in blocking, but he still found a way to snag his share of passes, and would make a valiant attempt at blocking. I think Sweeney has the potential to be better than O'Leary. He's not "athletic" per se, but he's faster than O'Leary. He's bigger and, I think somewhat faster, and a much better blocker. I think Knox sticks on potential, but Sweeney might be a TE Buffalo can rely on right now. I think it's shaping up to be a really good competition. Croom has improved considerably since he first signed on with the Bills, and is continuing to work at getting stronger and improving his blocking. Fisher is the real unknown. You expect he's going to be a great blocker, but I suspect Buffalo would like more from him. How much can Fisher factor in as a pass catcher? That might be a key to his making the team.

Absolutely there is dysfunction in the relationship between Gase and Maccagnan. Rich Cimini, Jets beat reporter for ESPN was a guest on One Bills Drive yesterday (https://www.buffalobills.com/audio/obl-5-6-bills-te-tommy-sweeney-joins-the-show-jets-offseason-talk-with-rich-cimi) and confirmed there was a rift between Maccagnan and Gase earlier over free agent signings. That supposedly has been smoothed over. There has been speculation that Gregg Williams wanted Oliver instead of Q Williams because of Oliver's superior penetration ability. I think its only a matter of time before there is open warfare in the Jets' front office. That will be almost as entertaining as watching our Bills crush the Jets on opening day in the Meadowlands.

Buffalo has to draft D'andre Swift next year. It's too perfect. The fastest running back in the draft is named "Swift." It would be like drafting a receiver name "Catch" or of an offensive guard named Dozer.

I figure McBeane is simply convenient shorthand when I think Beane and McDermott are in lockstep on a particular issue or player, or whatever. I think the process is a real thing. I've never used "McClappy." It's kind of pointless to me

Oliver's D-line coach went with him from high school to the college ranks. He's a big fan of the kid. That's a pretty good testimony of his quality.

So the force is with us?

I would not be surprised if he's still losing some weight. He might try and play in the 270s. One reason he switched is that he found it difficult to maintain tackle weight. I wish I could lose weight just by not trying to maintain a higher weight.

Agreed. You keep Beasley because he's a solid slot receiver with the ability to gain short area separation. You keep John Brown because he combines speed and route running and he can catch the ball. You don't want to keep a receiver just because he's big, but having some size in your receiver group can be really helpful under certain circumstances. If it comes down to Dukie Williams or Isaiah McKenzie for the last roster spot and McDermott thinks their value, irrespective of size is similar, but there is no other size receivers in the group, he's got to give serious consideration to Duke Williams because he will want at least one receiver who can "out physical" a big defensive back in a fight for a 50/50 ball when the game is on the line. If neither Duke Williams or David Sills has what it takes to play receiver in the NFL, then you can't keep either one, but the team is going to feel the lack of a big physical receiver.

The Cards are making a huge bet on Kingsbury and the Air Raid offense. If it pays off, their GM is going to look like a genius, but there is great potential for the team to and up being set back by several years if they're wrong.

I wondered, after Maximum Security was disqualified for committing a foul, if Bill Belichick or Rob Gronkowski was there. Maybe there;s something about them that rubs off on people and horses.

Yeah, "bleu" is French for "blue." It's awesome good. Ranch is OK for a salad, but for wings or tenders, it's got to be bleu cheese.

The McDermott culture is players who are passionate about football, and manifest that passion as discipline to engage in a dedicated process to improve their individual play and support their teammates.

I certainly didn't say that. I think in today's NFL, the no huddle offense is more of a situational offense. The Bills demonstrated back in the early 90s that the no huddle can create a lot of stress for your own defense. If you're not putting a lot of drives together, you're giving a huge time of possession advantage to your opponent. Thyat leads to your defense wearing down. As a situational offense, it can be effective in keeping the other team off balance. I can see Daboll wanting to do that.

A few on that list might be invalid as examples. For instance, Pat Mahomes was hardly on the field in his rookie year. I do think the point is valid. A pretty high percentage of QBs experience fairly significant improvement in their second year, including at least some QBs who eventually proved to be failures.

I don't think his words suggests he has doubts about his ability to stay clean. He is simply admitting that he has a lot to prove off the field.

I imagine no huddle will be in the Bills' arsenal. Josh should certainly be able to grow into calling his own plays. How much should they use no huddle with Josh making all the decision on the field? Let's play that one by ear.

Frankly, it's up to the Bills and Josh Allen to make the pundits eat their words this season. I'm optimistic that at least some of it is going to happen.